The Humane Society of the United States has released video footage taken earlier this year of an undercover investigation conducted at a Pennsylvania egg factory owned by Kreider Farms. The footage reveals shocking animal abuse, filth and rotting corpses at one of the nation's largest egg factories.

The Humane Society of the United States has released video footage taken earlier this year of an undercover investigation conducted at a Pennsylvania egg factory owned by Kreider Farms. The footage reveals shocking animal abuse, filth and rotting corpses at one of the nation’s largest egg factories.

Kreider Farms’ cages are home to roughly 7 million of the nation’s 280 million egg-laying hens (2.5 percent), and although one of the nation’s largest producers of eggs, Kreider Farms is actually only one of a few U.S. egg producers that does not support federal legislation to improve the living conditions for hens. In a statement released by the HSUS, president and CEO Wayne Pacelle said, “This new exposé underscores why we need a minimum federal standard for the housing of laying hens.”

Among the conditions exposed in the investigation were overcrowded cages with severely cramped birds given just 54-58 square inches; injured and dead hens found inside cages where live hens were producing eggs for human consumption; legs, wings and hens’ heads were frequently found trapped in cage wire and automated feeding equipment; and the coating of dead flies on the floor was so thick it made crunching sounds when walked on.

“Our investigation shows that major egg producers can just go their own way, ignore even the most modest industry standards, and cause incredible stress and harm to birds,” said Pacelle.

According to the HSUS, they’ve come to an agreement with long time adversaries the United Egg Producers—the largest egg industry trade association in the U.S.—to identify and collectively work on implementing solutions for improving the conditions that the 280 million egg-laying hens endure in factory farms.

]]>http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/investigation-finds-major-mistreatment-of-hens-at-massive-egg-factory-farm/feed/0Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? To Get a Bigger Battery Cagehttp://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/proposed-bill-for-bigger-battery-cages-for-egg-laying-chicken/
http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/proposed-bill-for-bigger-battery-cages-for-egg-laying-chicken/#commentsMon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:18 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=10743

A bill introduced to the House last week could mean major housing upgrades, if you're a chicken. Titled H.R. 3798, the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, the bill was crafted in partnership by the Humane Society of the United States and United Egg Producers.

A bill introduced to the House last week could mean major housing upgrades, if you’re a chicken. Titled H.R. 3798, the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, the bill was crafted in partnership by the Humane Society of the United States and United Egg Producers.

Calling it a necessary move, Chad Gregory, Senior Vice President of the UEP, said of the estimated $4 billion project, “This has been an incredibly grueling process, but we’re here today excited to recognize and celebrate this monumental achievement.”

The bill would phase out the use of battery cages for egg-laying hens—currently home to some 280 million chickens in the U.S. A typical battery cage is 67 square inches—often as small as a sheet of folded up newspaper—preventing the birds from fully extending their wings, or engaging in other natural movements or behaviors. The stress of living in a battery cage often leads chickens to cases of unnatural behavior including extreme violence, cannibalism and self-destructive habits. As a result, many battery cage operators have resorted to preventative measures such as searing the beaks off of young chicks without the use of anesthetics, and adding excessive amounts of antibiotics to feed to prevent infection from pecking, fighting and other potential causes of infection. Excessive antibiotic use has led to antibiotic-resistant pathogens that cause serious human health risks.

The new proposal would eventually more than double the size of battery cages rolled out in a tiered phase over the next 15 to 18 years. In a statement released by the Humane Society, president and CEO, Wayne Pacelle called the resolution “historic and unprecedented,” and able to benefit “hundreds of millions of animals per year.”